The issue with ethics, is that everyone has their own set of ethical believes. Mine are as follows: I do not consider those that do breast augmentation and liposuction to be physicians. To me, a physician treats an illness. They do not alter your body to what is deemed "sexy" or "hot". Personally I find it quite annoying when i see these ads. These "physicians" are telling you that if you do not look like this woman on TV, then you aren't considered acceptable and they will help make you look that way. To these people, medicine is a business... how much money can I make changing who you are.
I agree with Desiree that the opinion of whether it is ethically acceptable for a physician to do those procedures is up to ones personal beliefs and set of values. Although I do not consider it ethical for doctors to do procedures that are unnecessary, I am not the one doing or receiving the surgery. I have no problem with those who receive plastic surgery because of their own issues or preferences but I myself would never undergo it. However, I do not agree with physicians stimulating a demand for services with false advertising. A person may think that if he or she gets the procedure done they will look just like the pictures shown. In all reality that's not the result. Each person's experience and change is unique to their procedure and body. Medicine should best be understood as a profession. I set the plastic surgery apart from that side of medicine because it is not comparable to for example a labor and delivery doctor who does things needed for the best intentions healthwise for the patient. Cosmetic surgery in itself has become a business and a new epidemic much separate from the real medical profession.
I like to believe that people say respect who you are, but there are those people who wish they looked like the people they see on tv, when in reality everyone who goes through plastic surgery reacts differenly as lindsay said. I feel that we have to think if the physician is doing this for money or to change your body. Then again you have to think of the good things they do like when a person is in a car wreck and needs alterations to their face. I can see where these physicians are doing their job in helping the person's appearance look normal again. I don't agree with the physicians having a demand for the services because they use false advertising because everyone reacts differently. Besides a medical profession, they are a busniess profession that had grown and is used for more than altering something about a person because of an injury but just because they want to.
As Angie brought up, plastic surgeons are not necessarily all bad. Some plastic surgeons do good work reconstructing faces, or limiting scars for patients who have suffered horrific illnesses or accidents. These plastic surgeons do good work, and are physicians who have the best interest of their patients at heart. That being said, the plastic surgeons who advertise and purposefully appeal to people's insecurities all for the reason of earning money are not good physicians. It is acceptable in my opinion to perform plastic surgery on people who seek you out because they really hate their nose, or wish they were thinner, and this is something that they cannot change without surgical help. It is not acceptable to convince people to have plastic surgery by convincing them that their body is not okay. In this way, the medical health field is different from the business field in that it should not all be about making money and should instead focus on making people's lives better.
I understand that everyone has one thing or possible multiple things that they dislike about themselves. I also understand that these indviduals want to change what they don't like about themselves, such as losing weight, keeping promises, being more honest, etc... (essentially new years resolutions) however, plastic surgery is a tricky subject. I do not object against it when the surgery will better someone's health, such as liposuction, what I do not agree with is having the surgery in order to feed their own narcisistic needs. Now one could say that having lipo is being narcisistic about their body image, this is true, but having this surgery could also help to extend ones life. I do not see how having your breasts enlarged could in any way better your health and/or extend your life. Now having a breast reduction can prevent and/or alleviate some back problems that woman may have, and I find this totally acceptable. As Marion stated, some surgeons also do facial reconstruction surgery, and while this can also be viewed as narcisistic needs, more than likely in the end it will also give the patient peace of mind and essentially keep them from hating life. I do not understand why a breast augmentation or butt implants could better someonen's life, but that is my own personal opinion. I do not agree with the advertising going around that tells everyone to look like a supermodel 24/7, that is not reality people. Why would you want everyone to see the fake you, instead of who you were born as, that is the real you. I believe that physicans should be able to perform plastic surgery on patients, but first the patient should have to undergo a detailed assessment and interview process on why they are wanting this surgery and whether or not this surgery could improve their health. I agree with Marion on the aspect that the health field is not a money transaction, or rather that it SHOULD not be a money transaction, it should be about improving peoples health, however lately money seems to dominate peoples choices on health care.
I agree with most of my classmates when saying if a physican wants to be a plastic surgeon it is up to them. Although most people get plastic surgery to look like famous people or have "the perfect body", some people may need or want plastic surgery for reasons other than cosmetics. Although I do still understand it is based more on people wanting to look a certain way. Also I know everyone is supposed to love the way they look but a lot of people don't. If having plastic surgery will help, not only the person's outer view of themselves, but their inner view it may not be all that bad. I do agree with Marion in saying that the world today or doctors shouldn't convince people that they need plastic surgery. The advertising on billboards may be a little too much. In that way, the doctors look like they are just wanted to make money, not help people. I also agree with Lindsay when saying cosmetic surgery has become a seperate branch of the medical field on its own.
I also agree to the discussion above that it is a physician decision to choose whether to be a "plastic" surgeon or a typical surgeon as we know. The increased rate of cosmetic surgeries depends people's believes and what they consider 'ethical' to them in different parts of the world. For instance, 'plastic' surgery is common and rampant in certain countries where people critique looks and do not appreciate and embrace who they are!! Personally, I believe it takes humility, and discipline to love and appreciate who you are! The issue of 'social pressure' or even 'celebrity pressure' has caused many to go for these surgeries to 'perfect' certain parts of their bodies. To some it always go well, to others it remains a haunting experience in their lives forever! Therefore, I believe that physicians surgeons should mainly provide the services in treating certain disease, or dysfunction. On the other hand if the physician has the skills and someone would love to have the services then, I don't blame it entirely on the physician. Virtues and ethics play a big role in this scenario -majorly on the part of the surgeon! The costs for services like these are particularly expensive and not everyone can afford them, hence, those who may afford them are in high social class status and they'll travel despite the distance just to get a nose re-done,a leg lengthened, breast augmented etc. It is not ethical for the physicians themselves to advocate for and propagate these adverts (to improve physical attractiveness). This should only happen in serious medical conditions where lets say a patient has suffered serious facial or body burn or was involved in some accident and his/her body is terribly bruised.... In the generations of our fore fathers founders in medicine, medicine was so much considered a "calling" and a profession with the main role of a physician being: "to help save lives cure or treat illness/disease". Even though it is the same thing experienced today, still to some people it is perceived as a 'business" to make money. We are living in a generation that is changing rapidly in every sector/industry. To me medicine is a profession and I have never looked at it as a "source of making money" neither as a "business". Today, so many people pursue medicine with different intentions and motives. Therefore, I personally believe that medicine should be understood as a profession with stricter moral norms than those governing business!!!
I don't see someone who does this work to be a normal doctor you go see when you feel ill. I see this as someone who specializes in this, a plastic surgeon. In this case, using their skills is ethical, because they have trained to do surgeries like this and so are helping people look the way they want to, good. However, I don't think it's ethical for them to use commercials to pull them in. I understand most people wouldn't know about the doctors unless they ran some form of advertisement. So in a sense the doctors are trying to let people know that they exist and can do what the people want. At the same time it does seem like it is an exploitation device that targets those who hate the way they look, but it can be used to show them what can be done to improve one's physical image. I think medicine more of a profession. Not all doctors have the sole intention of making money. Some really care about what they do and the patients they help. Most of the time you are referred to other doctors by friends or your current doctor. Really the only advertisement you see for a physician, are for doctors that specialize in something like cosmetic surgery.
I believe there is a definite distinction between a medical physician and a plastic surgeon. The distinction, in my mind, is present when it comes to illness and disease. Medical physicians are considered those who treat a patient's illness or disease in benefit for the patient's well-being. Plastic surgeons, however, are those who comply with patient's wants rather than needs. Almost all plastic surgeries are performed for cosmetic purposes, but it is not something that is crucial for a patient's well-being. I do not believe it is right for a plastic surgeon to target the insecurities of individuals via advertisement. Having said this, they cannot force anyone into having plastic surgery such as breast augmentation or liposuction. I believe it is up to the patient whether or not they would like to change their body image. They would have to reflect on their own morals and decide for themselves if it was something they were truly interested in.
I feel like that these types of advertisements are very common. Its no big surprise to see a beautiful woman in a magazine and feeling pressure to look like her because that is what our culture deems "beautiful." I agree with Brittany when she says that a pt. has control of whether or not to get surgery. Plastic surgeons are just as much of doctors as regular medical doctors. Even regular medicine has become a business. Is it moral to prey on those who are less confident in there appearances? No, maybe it goes against what seems morally right, but its apart of consumer society. I think that doctors, in order to be more moral, discuss with the pt the reason why they want to get whatever they are getting done, and see if they can offer support.
No, I do not feel it is ethically acceptable to perform operations that do not better a persons health. This type of advertising by physicians promotes poor body image just for the sake of making money. Again, I believe it is not ethically acceptable to stimulate demand for services because it makes people feel inadequate and gives them false hope. This type of advertising leads people to believe that just by having surgery they can look great, be happy and lead a more enjoyable life when that is clearly not the case for most people, if any.
I feel medicine is a profession with stricter moral norms. I strongly believe that a physician should be paid for his knowledge and expertise. However, his goal should be to help his patients feel good because they are healthy, not just because they look good in the world’s eyes. Looking good can make a person feel confident, but cosmetic surgery does not necessarily make them healthy. Physicians should encourage healthy lifestyles, good nutrition and preventive health measures rather than cosmetic surgery as the key to a full life. Looks aren’t everything although our society seems to think they are. Our society does not accept aging as a natural life process and the media does much to lead people to believe that being thin and beautiful makes you valuable and wanted.
I think plastic surgery is a wonderful medical specialty in the case of correcting birth defects, for treating burn and accident victims, or correcting an injury. I don’t think selling cosmetic surgery as the way to a better life is ethically acceptable or healthy. I wish to see cosmetic surgery obtain stricter moral norms.
I do not see a medical professional providing services such breast enlargement to patients. There is a difference between a physician and a plastic surgeon and I can see a plastic surgeon providing these services because its their job to do so. I do not think it is ethically acceptable to provide these attentioning grabbing advertisements but it is reality that they are going to do so. These are the types oof services they are performing even if they draw out the insecurities people have. Regardless of the advertisments it is still up to the individual to decide to get that type of surgery. I think medicine is best understood as a profession but when it comes to plastic surgery it is more of a business.
I feel that these types of ads are all over the place. Most people today get plastic surgery because the want to be like someone else. They want to have the perfect body or to be considered beautiful tto others. But some on the other hand need plastic sugery because they have either some type of disease or a traumatic injury happened to them. Like others said, it is the patient's decision whether they want to have plastic surgery or not. I could see that when people are saying that they just put up billboards/ads that they are trying to just make more money. But i could see that they would advertise because of the work they have done throughout the years. I know that when I see those ads, I pretty much ignore them because I would never have the money to do that kind of thing. I feel that everyone should like the way that they are now, why do we need to change it!
Personally, I have a problem with plastic surgery ads being targeted to a teen audience. Girls that age are more likely to be swayed by what is deemed "cool" in magazines or on TV, and do not need any more pressure to conform to the "perfect" standards for beauty.
Plastic surgery can be beneficial. I know several people who have had severe injuries, who have had or will be faced with plastic surgery in the future, for reconstructive purposes. In these circumstances, plastic surgeons do a wonderful thing by giving people a new lease on life. However, advertisements that are intended to make people feel "flawed" are not ethical.
Medicine is supposed to be a profession. However, some doctors today see it as only a business. These are the doctors who will shamelessly promote pharmaceutical products in order to receive benefits from the pharmaceutical company, or who create insulting advertisements encouraging people to undergo risky medical procedures in order to "look better." Certainly, many physicians are in medicine to heal. But those who view medicine like a business are very capable of giving all doctors a bad reputation.
I think it is okay and part of our culture for physicans to be displaying adds for plastic surgery. There are a ton of people who want to change something about themselves because they feel pressured to look a certain way. I agree with Nicole and with it is the patient's decision to decide if they want to pay attention to the ad or not and decide if they want plastic surgery. It is not ethically acceptable to play up on people's insecurities, but I could see why they did advertise that way. How else are they going to create an advertisement for a group of plastic surgery physicians because part of their job to fix the outer appearance of someone. They are just trying to attract in customers just like any other company would. When it comes to plastic surgery as to fix people's insecurities about their cosmetic appearance I can see it more as a business than as a the physicians are changing something that has nothing wrong with it. However, when plastic surgeries fix burns or a disfigured face because of a birth defect, I think then that is more of a profession. The physicians are helping people out that really need it.
I think it’s within a physician’s right to choose his or her own specialty and plastic surgery is one of those options. I do however think because they are doctors that they should have the patient’s best interests in mind that they should consider why a patient is getting a procedure and make sure the patient understands the full risks of having it done. It seems like most of my classmates that I would agree that it is unacceptable for a physician to target teen girls and women and prey on their insecurities in order to drum up business. Especially when considering the procedures the physicians are offering are cosmetic and offer no medical benefit to the client. I think of medicine as caring for someone who has a disease process or illness of some kind and in that aspect I think of medicine as a profession with a stricter set of moral norms than that of a business. However, when considering plastic surgeons and cosmetic surgery there is an aspect of business to it because the procedures are elective and there would competition for clients.
Brittany Buechel: I believe there are differences between the physicians that decide to do plastic surgery and the physicians that practice to treat a medical illness. When I think plastic surgery, I think reconstructive surgery after severe accidents, My mind doesn't suddenly take me to cosmetic surgery. It is ethical for physicians to take their practice to the cosmetic surgery field. If that has been their dreams to do so, who are we to say that it is unethical for them to do something they have always wanted to do. It may seem unethical around the Northern Kentucky Area however, because it is rarely heard of around here. Usually the ones that can afford cosmetic surgery are the rich and famous whom usually do not live in Ky. People advertise for their services in several different ways. How else are they going to advertise for cosmetic surgery other than showing off what cosmetic surgery can do? If they didn't advertise what it could do, no one would want to get it done. There are so many issues that could affect one's insecurities- clothing magazines, perfume ads, even alcohol and smoking ads could take advantage of someone insecurities. No matter what, insecurities are going to be affected, whether its for plastic surgery or not. I think all medicine which pertains to caring for someone and their disease process is a profession with stricter moral norms. Even cosmetic surgery to reconstruct something on someones body after an accident is a profession with stricter moral norms. But, cosmetic surgery to help someone feel better about themselves is a business. The patient wants it and the surgeon can provide what they want.
I feel that doctors of cosmetic surgery and doctors who deal with illness and disease are different, but a cosmetic surgeon is no less a doctor. Elective surgery to enhance body parts or remove fat may not be what is thought of when we think of a physician, but everyone has a different calling. Cosmetic surgeons don't all do just elective surgeries. They deal with reconstructive surgery for patient's who have had horrible accidents that change an appearance or they reduce breasts for those women who have back problems because their breasts are very large. Not everything a cosmetic surgeon does is just to make someone look like a model, sometimes its to make some look normal again. I think it is awkward that doctors advertise their work with women in bikinis, but that's their specialty.
Although I cannot say plastic surgery is ethical corrupt, I do not feel like plastering an advertisement on a billboard is appropriate.. Its sort of like having a billboard saying "Go ahead, sleep around.. We can treat your STD's for cheap!"
I dont agree that MD's and plastic surgeons are on the same level, but some plastic surgeries have a definite medical and psychological benefit. People who suffer traumatic burns or scarring or disfigurements, plastic surgery can help them return to a pre-injury appearance, but there are also times plastic surgery is needed for structural deformities.
I have a friend who had a deviated septum. She could barely breath out of her nose, she was always congested, and got sick often because she couldnt even blow her nose successfully. A MD recommended surgery to have her nose re-aligned to correct the deviated septum. This is technically a plastic surgery but it has impacted her life tremendously.
Check out this guy who had a face transplant. I am 100% for plastic surgeries for pts with traumatic injuries.
The issue with ethics, is that everyone has their own set of ethical believes. Mine are as follows:
ReplyDeleteI do not consider those that do breast augmentation and liposuction to be physicians. To me, a physician treats an illness. They do not alter your body to what is deemed "sexy" or "hot". Personally I find it quite annoying when i see these ads. These "physicians" are telling you that if you do not look like this woman on TV, then you aren't considered acceptable and they will help make you look that way. To these people, medicine is a business... how much money can I make changing who you are.
I agree with Desiree that the opinion of whether it is ethically acceptable for a physician to do those procedures is up to ones personal beliefs and set of values. Although I do not consider it ethical for doctors to do procedures that are unnecessary, I am not the one doing or receiving the surgery. I have no problem with those who receive plastic surgery because of their own issues or preferences but I myself would never undergo it. However, I do not agree with physicians stimulating a demand for services with false advertising. A person may think that if he or she gets the procedure done they will look just like the pictures shown. In all reality that's not the result. Each person's experience and change is unique to their procedure and body. Medicine should best be understood as a profession. I set the plastic surgery apart from that side of medicine because it is not comparable to for example a labor and delivery doctor who does things needed for the best intentions healthwise for the patient. Cosmetic surgery in itself has become a business and a new epidemic much separate from the real medical profession.
ReplyDeleteI like to believe that people say respect who you are, but there are those people who wish they looked like the people they see on tv, when in reality everyone who goes through plastic surgery reacts differenly as lindsay said. I feel that we have to think if the physician is doing this for money or to change your body. Then again you have to think of the good things they do like when a person is in a car wreck and needs alterations to their face. I can see where these physicians are doing their job in helping the person's appearance look normal again. I don't agree with the physicians having a demand for the services because they use false advertising because everyone reacts differently. Besides a medical profession, they are a busniess profession that had grown and is used for more than altering something about a person because of an injury but just because they want to.
ReplyDeleteAs Angie brought up, plastic surgeons are not necessarily all bad. Some plastic surgeons do good work reconstructing faces, or limiting scars for patients who have suffered horrific illnesses or accidents. These plastic surgeons do good work, and are physicians who have the best interest of their patients at heart. That being said, the plastic surgeons who advertise and purposefully appeal to people's insecurities all for the reason of earning money are not good physicians. It is acceptable in my opinion to perform plastic surgery on people who seek you out because they really hate their nose, or wish they were thinner, and this is something that they cannot change without surgical help. It is not acceptable to convince people to have plastic surgery by convincing them that their body is not okay. In this way, the medical health field is different from the business field in that it should not all be about making money and should instead focus on making people's lives better.
ReplyDeleteI understand that everyone has one thing or possible multiple things that they dislike about themselves. I also understand that these indviduals want to change what they don't like about themselves, such as losing weight, keeping promises, being more honest, etc... (essentially new years resolutions) however, plastic surgery is a tricky subject. I do not object against it when the surgery will better someone's health, such as liposuction, what I do not agree with is having the surgery in order to feed their own narcisistic needs. Now one could say that having lipo is being narcisistic about their body image, this is true, but having this surgery could also help to extend ones life. I do not see how having your breasts enlarged could in any way better your health and/or extend your life. Now having a breast reduction can prevent and/or alleviate some back problems that woman may have, and I find this totally acceptable. As Marion stated, some surgeons also do facial reconstruction surgery, and while this can also be viewed as narcisistic needs, more than likely in the end it will also give the patient peace of mind and essentially keep them from hating life. I do not understand why a breast augmentation or butt implants could better someonen's life, but that is my own personal opinion. I do not agree with the advertising going around that tells everyone to look like a supermodel 24/7, that is not reality people. Why would you want everyone to see the fake you, instead of who you were born as, that is the real you. I believe that physicans should be able to perform plastic surgery on patients, but first the patient should have to undergo a detailed assessment and interview process on why they are wanting this surgery and whether or not this surgery could improve their health. I agree with Marion on the aspect that the health field is not a money transaction, or rather that it SHOULD not be a money transaction, it should be about improving peoples health, however lately money seems to dominate peoples choices on health care.
ReplyDeleteI agree with most of my classmates when saying if a physican wants to be a plastic surgeon it is up to them. Although most people get plastic surgery to look like famous people or have "the perfect body", some people may need or want plastic surgery for reasons other than cosmetics. Although I do still understand it is based more on people wanting to look a certain way. Also I know everyone is supposed to love the way they look but a lot of people don't. If having plastic surgery will help, not only the person's outer view of themselves, but their inner view it may not be all that bad. I do agree with Marion in saying that the world today or doctors shouldn't convince people that they need plastic surgery. The advertising on billboards may be a little too much. In that way, the doctors look like they are just wanted to make money, not help people. I also agree with Lindsay when saying cosmetic surgery has become a seperate branch of the medical field on its own.
ReplyDeleteI also agree to the discussion above that it is a physician decision to choose whether to be a "plastic" surgeon or a typical surgeon as we know. The increased rate of cosmetic surgeries depends people's believes and what they consider 'ethical' to them in different parts of the world. For instance, 'plastic' surgery is common and rampant in certain countries where people critique looks and do not appreciate and embrace who they are!! Personally, I believe it takes humility, and discipline to love and appreciate who you are! The issue of 'social pressure' or even 'celebrity pressure' has caused many to go for these surgeries to 'perfect' certain parts of their bodies. To some it always go well, to others it remains a haunting experience in their lives forever! Therefore, I believe that physicians surgeons should mainly provide the services in treating certain disease, or dysfunction. On the other hand if the physician has the skills and someone would love to have the services then, I don't blame it entirely on the physician. Virtues and ethics play a big role in this scenario -majorly on the part of the surgeon! The costs for services like these are particularly expensive and not everyone can afford them, hence, those who may afford them are in high social class status and they'll travel despite the distance just to get a nose re-done,a leg lengthened, breast augmented etc. It is not ethical for the physicians themselves to advocate for and propagate these adverts (to improve physical attractiveness). This should only happen in serious medical conditions where lets say a patient has suffered serious facial or body burn or was involved in some accident and his/her body is terribly bruised.... In the generations of our fore fathers founders in medicine, medicine was so much considered a "calling" and a profession with the main role of a physician being: "to help save lives cure or treat illness/disease". Even though it is the same thing experienced today, still to some people it is perceived as a 'business" to make money. We are living in a generation that is changing rapidly in every sector/industry. To me medicine is a profession and I have never looked at it as a "source of making money" neither as a "business". Today, so many people pursue medicine with different intentions and motives. Therefore, I personally believe that medicine should be understood as a profession with stricter moral norms than those governing business!!!
ReplyDeleteI don't see someone who does this work to be a normal doctor you go see when you feel ill. I see this as someone who specializes in this, a plastic surgeon. In this case, using their skills is ethical, because they have trained to do surgeries like this and so are helping people look the way they want to, good. However, I don't think it's ethical for them to use commercials to pull them in. I understand most people wouldn't know about the doctors unless they ran some form of advertisement. So in a sense the doctors are trying to let people know that they exist and can do what the people want. At the same time it does seem like it is an exploitation device that targets those who hate the way they look, but it can be used to show them what can be done to improve one's physical image. I think medicine more of a profession. Not all doctors have the sole intention of making money. Some really care about what they do and the patients they help. Most of the time you are referred to other doctors by friends or your current doctor. Really the only advertisement you see for a physician, are for doctors that specialize in something like cosmetic surgery.
ReplyDeleteI believe there is a definite distinction between a medical physician and a plastic surgeon. The distinction, in my mind, is present when it comes to illness and disease. Medical physicians are considered those who treat a patient's illness or disease in benefit for the patient's well-being. Plastic surgeons, however, are those who comply with patient's wants rather than needs. Almost all plastic surgeries are performed for cosmetic purposes, but it is not something that is crucial for a patient's well-being. I do not believe it is right for a plastic surgeon to target the insecurities of individuals via advertisement. Having said this, they cannot force anyone into having plastic surgery such as breast augmentation or liposuction. I believe it is up to the patient whether or not they would like to change their body image. They would have to reflect on their own morals and decide for themselves if it was something they were truly interested in.
ReplyDeleteI feel like that these types of advertisements are very common. Its no big surprise to see a beautiful woman in a magazine and feeling pressure to look like her because that is what our culture deems "beautiful." I agree with Brittany when she says that a pt. has control of whether or not to get surgery. Plastic surgeons are just as much of doctors as regular medical doctors. Even regular medicine has become a business. Is it moral to prey on those who are less confident in there appearances? No, maybe it goes against what seems morally right, but its apart of consumer society. I think that doctors, in order to be more moral, discuss with the pt the reason why they want to get whatever they are getting done, and see if they can offer support.
ReplyDeleteNo, I do not feel it is ethically acceptable to perform operations that do not better a persons health. This type of advertising by physicians promotes poor body image just for the sake of making money. Again, I believe it is not ethically acceptable to stimulate demand for services because it makes people feel inadequate and gives them false hope. This type of advertising leads people to believe that just by having surgery they can look great, be happy and lead a more enjoyable life when that is clearly not the case for most people, if any.
ReplyDeleteI feel medicine is a profession with stricter moral norms. I strongly believe that a physician should be paid for his knowledge and expertise. However, his goal should be to help his patients feel good because they are healthy, not just because they look good in the world’s eyes. Looking good can make a person feel confident, but cosmetic surgery does not necessarily make them healthy. Physicians should encourage healthy lifestyles, good nutrition and preventive health measures rather than cosmetic surgery as the key to a full life. Looks aren’t everything although our society seems to think they are. Our society does not accept aging as a natural life process and the media does much to lead people to believe that being thin and beautiful makes you valuable and wanted.
I think plastic surgery is a wonderful medical specialty in the case of correcting birth defects, for treating burn and accident victims, or correcting an injury. I don’t think selling cosmetic surgery as the way to a better life is ethically acceptable or healthy. I wish to see cosmetic surgery obtain stricter moral norms.
I do not see a medical professional providing services such breast enlargement to patients. There is a difference between a physician and a plastic surgeon and I can see a plastic surgeon providing these services because its their job to do so. I do not think it is ethically acceptable to provide these attentioning grabbing advertisements but it is reality that they are going to do so. These are the types oof services they are performing even if they draw out the insecurities people have. Regardless of the advertisments it is still up to the individual to decide to get that type of surgery. I think medicine is best understood as a profession but when it comes to plastic surgery it is more of a business.
ReplyDeleteI feel that these types of ads are all over the place. Most people today get plastic surgery because the want to be like someone else. They want to have the perfect body or to be considered beautiful tto others. But some on the other hand need plastic sugery because they have either some type of disease or a traumatic injury happened to them. Like others said, it is the patient's decision whether they want to have plastic surgery or not.
ReplyDeleteI could see that when people are saying that they just put up billboards/ads that they are trying to just make more money. But i could see that they would advertise because of the work they have done throughout the years. I know that when I see those ads, I pretty much ignore them because I would never have the money to do that kind of thing. I feel that everyone should like the way that they are now, why do we need to change it!
Personally, I have a problem with plastic surgery ads being targeted to a teen audience. Girls that age are more likely to be swayed by what is deemed "cool" in magazines or on TV, and do not need any more pressure to conform to the "perfect" standards for beauty.
ReplyDeletePlastic surgery can be beneficial. I know several people who have had severe injuries, who have had or will be faced with plastic surgery in the future, for reconstructive purposes. In these circumstances, plastic surgeons do a wonderful thing by giving people a new lease on life. However, advertisements that are intended to make people feel "flawed" are not ethical.
Medicine is supposed to be a profession. However, some doctors today see it as only a business. These are the doctors who will shamelessly promote pharmaceutical products in order to receive benefits from the pharmaceutical company, or who create insulting advertisements encouraging people to undergo risky medical procedures in order to "look better." Certainly, many physicians are in medicine to heal. But those who view medicine like a business are very capable of giving all doctors a bad reputation.
I think it is okay and part of our culture for physicans to be displaying adds for plastic surgery. There are a ton of people who want to change something about themselves because they feel pressured to look a certain way. I agree with Nicole and with it is the patient's decision to decide if they want to pay attention to the ad or not and decide if they want plastic surgery. It is not ethically acceptable to play up on people's insecurities, but I could see why they did advertise that way. How else are they going to create an advertisement for a group of plastic surgery physicians because part of their job to fix the outer appearance of someone. They are just trying to attract in customers just like any other company would. When it comes to plastic surgery as to fix people's insecurities about their cosmetic appearance I can see it more as a business than as a the physicians are changing something that has nothing wrong with it. However, when plastic surgeries fix burns or a disfigured face because of a birth defect, I think then that is more of a profession. The physicians are helping people out that really need it.
ReplyDeleteI think it’s within a physician’s right to choose his or her own specialty and plastic surgery is one of those options. I do however think because they are doctors that they should have the patient’s best interests in mind that they should consider why a patient is getting a procedure and make sure the patient understands the full risks of having it done.
ReplyDeleteIt seems like most of my classmates that I would agree that it is unacceptable for a physician to target teen girls and women and prey on their insecurities in order to drum up business. Especially when considering the procedures the physicians are offering are cosmetic and offer no medical benefit to the client.
I think of medicine as caring for someone who has a disease process or illness of some kind and in that aspect I think of medicine as a profession with a stricter set of moral norms than that of a business. However, when considering plastic surgeons and cosmetic surgery there is an aspect of business to it because the procedures are elective and there would competition for clients.
Brittany Buechel: I believe there are differences between the physicians that decide to do plastic surgery and the physicians that practice to treat a medical illness. When I think plastic surgery, I think reconstructive surgery after severe accidents, My mind doesn't suddenly take me to cosmetic surgery. It is ethical for physicians to take their practice to the cosmetic surgery field. If that has been their dreams to do so, who are we to say that it is unethical for them to do something they have always wanted to do. It may seem unethical around the Northern Kentucky Area however, because it is rarely heard of around here. Usually the ones that can afford cosmetic surgery are the rich and famous whom usually do not live in Ky. People advertise for their services in several different ways. How else are they going to advertise for cosmetic surgery other than showing off what cosmetic surgery can do? If they didn't advertise what it could do, no one would want to get it done. There are so many issues that could affect one's insecurities- clothing magazines, perfume ads, even alcohol and smoking ads could take advantage of someone insecurities. No matter what, insecurities are going to be affected, whether its for plastic surgery or not. I think all medicine which pertains to caring for someone and their disease process is a profession with stricter moral norms. Even cosmetic surgery to reconstruct something on someones body after an accident is a profession with stricter moral norms. But, cosmetic surgery to help someone feel better about themselves is a business. The patient wants it and the surgeon can provide what they want.
ReplyDeleteI feel that doctors of cosmetic surgery and doctors who deal with illness and disease are different, but a cosmetic surgeon is no less a doctor. Elective surgery to enhance body parts or remove fat may not be what is thought of when we think of a physician, but everyone has a different calling. Cosmetic surgeons don't all do just elective surgeries. They deal with reconstructive surgery for patient's who have had horrible accidents that change an appearance or they reduce breasts for those women who have back problems because their breasts are very large. Not everything a cosmetic surgeon does is just to make someone look like a model, sometimes its to make some look normal again. I think it is awkward that doctors advertise their work with women in bikinis, but that's their specialty.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I cannot say plastic surgery is ethical corrupt, I do not feel like plastering an advertisement on a billboard is appropriate.. Its sort of like having a billboard saying "Go ahead, sleep around.. We can treat your STD's for cheap!"
ReplyDeleteI dont agree that MD's and plastic surgeons are on the same level, but some plastic surgeries have a definite medical and psychological benefit. People who suffer traumatic burns or scarring or disfigurements, plastic surgery can help them return to a pre-injury appearance, but there are also times plastic surgery is needed for structural deformities.
I have a friend who had a deviated septum. She could barely breath out of her nose, she was always congested, and got sick often because she couldnt even blow her nose successfully. A MD recommended surgery to have her nose re-aligned to correct the deviated septum. This is technically a plastic surgery but it has impacted her life tremendously.
Check out this guy who had a face transplant. I am 100% for plastic surgeries for pts with traumatic injuries.
http://www.bostonherald.com/entertainment/television/general/view.bg?articleid=1263029